The eSource Readiness Assessment Tool (eSRA) contains questions based on regulations and regulatory agency guidelines for clinical research data sources and should be used to evaluate the suitability of an Investigator Site computerized system to provide data for clinical research.

Clinical research draws on a combination of data collected during a clinical trial and historical medical information relating to the research subject(s). Many of the data points needed for clinical research are originating in Electronic Health Record Systems, making them “eSource” for clinical research. Even if these data points are not used in their electronic state for clinical research, but are printed from the electronic health records and then re-entered into a Sponsor's system for a clinical trial, the source of the information (the healthcare system) must still be confirmed as compliant with standards set forth in clinical research regulations and applicable guidance documents.

An eClinical Forum team, comprised of CRAs and Data Managers from different clinical research sponsor organizations and CROs, has produced the "eSource-Readiness Assessment", otherwise known as "eSRA" for sites to perform a self-assessment of their computerized systems ability to be compliant with clinical research regulations.

The eSRA Template Version 2018.1 can be downloaded as part of the eSRA Handbook below.

Stay Current!! As new regulations are released or updated, the eClinical Forum will evaluate if the eSRA questions should be updated. To be notified of future releases of the eSRA Template, please send an email to eSRA@eClinicalForum.org. Your email address will not be used for purposes other than to inform you of updates to eSRA.

Please Help! Be a part of the solution -- An easy way for you to participate in the improvement of our e-clinical environment! We welcome your feedback on the assessment tool. We would also like to use your completed assessment, in an anonymized way, as part of a summary of the ability and needs of site's computerized systems. We are compiling statistics regarding site abilities, to provide information to software vendors and others, regarding areas for improvement. It is our goal that all healthcare systems become compliant with clinical research regulations and guidance. Please help us -- send your completed assessment to eSRA@eClinicalForum.org. You are welcome to strip off your organization identifying information before sending, however, this is not necessary as we promise to not use this portion of the assessment for our summary purposes. Thank you!!!

eSRA Resources

Release 2018.1

eCF eSRA Release 2018.1 is based on regulatory documents from FDA (USA), EMA (European Union), PMDA (Japan) and ICH (International). The eClinical Forum will continue to monitor new releases and updates of regulatory documents from these agencies to determine if the eSRA template questions should be updated.

Feb 2018 Statistics on use of eSRA around the globe

eClinical Forum has provided a free assessment tool for clinical research sites to self-assess their computerized systems for readiness to originate or handle data that could become part of a regulated clinical trial. This tool is called the "eSource-Readiness Assessment" or "eSRA" and has been available since August 2015. As of February 2018, it has been used by over 1140 sites in 47 countries.

Summary of eSRA Responses: October 2015 through March 2018

Stay Tuned! We will be compiling and analyzing the eSRA responses from eSRA Release 1 (October 2015 through March 2018). Data will be presented in an anonymized and summarized form. We hope to identify areas for improvement within the e-Clinical arena. We anticipate this report to be ready June 2018.

Partnering for Success

The Dutch Clinical Trial Foundation (DCTF) evaluate the use of eSRA for the validation of electronic health record (EHR) systems used at clinical research sites within the Netherlands. The group consists of representatives from several pharmaceutical companies, CROs and hospitals. Expand the article to learn more...